Nauka Przyroda Technologie 2009

N
auka
P
ISSN 1897-7820
rzyroda
T
echnologie
2009
Tom 3
Zeszyt 2
http://www.npt.up-poznan.net
Dział: Zootechnika
Copyright ©Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Przyrodniczego w Poznaniu
SŁAWOMIR NOWICKI1, ZBIGNIEW NAWROCKI2, MARCIN KORCZYŃSKI3,
PIOTR PRZYSIECKI2
1
Department of Sheep, Goat and Fur Animals Breeding
Poznań University of Life Sciences
2
Institute of Agriculture
Jan Amos Komeński Higher Vocational State School in Leszno
3
Evialis Polska Sp. z o.o., Warsaw
AN ATTEMPT OF EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT
OF GEOPATHIC ZONES ON ASSESSMENT
OF CONFORMATION IN ARCTIC FOX (ALOPEX LAGOPUS)
Summary. The study was an attempt to determine the effect of geopathic zones within a farm on
results of conformation assessment in young Arctic foxes from weaning to slaughter. Investigations were conducted on a large Arctic fox farm on cubs of both sexes (1803 male and 1517 female) born in the years 2003-2005. The course of underground streams on the farm was established using a resonator and next marked on the farm plan. In the period of full coat ripeness
conformation assessment was performed following the currently binding conformation grading
standard for Arctic foxes. Based on results of conformation assessment and using the analysis of
variance animals kept in geopathic zones were compared with animals from areas with no such
zones. Obtained results suggest that in case of young Arctic foxes an adverse effect of geopathic
zones was not recorded. Some results indicate a slight positive effect of geopathic zones on young
foxes. Further more extensive studies need to be conducted concerning the effect of these zones
on conformation assessment scores in older animals, kept in areas with such zones over longer
periods of time.
Key words: Arctic fox, geopathic zones, coat
Introduction
Every living organism may be exposed to the action of numerous adverse environmental factors, one of which is radiation caused by underground streams (water radiation), which generates the so-called geopathic zones. These zones may cause electromagnetic anomalies, affecting animal health and productivity. Numerous studies reported their adverse effect on human and animal organisms (KUBASIEWICZ 1981,
FRESHWATER 1997, SAUNDERS 2003, HACKER et AL. 2005).
2
Nowicki S., Nawrocki Z., Korczyński M., Przysiecki P., 2009. An attempt of evaluation of the effect of geopathic
zones on assessment of conformation in Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus). Nauka Przyr. Technol. 3, 2, #71.
Not all animal species respond to geopathic zones in similar ways and admissible
rates were developed for the effect of these zones on different groups of animals (HERBUT 2005). Health disorders were observed; in young animals these were growth retardation and reduced weight gains, while in older animals they included disturbances in
the sexual cycle, miscarriages and smaller sizes of litters (MOŚCICKI 1979, KRZYWDA et
AL. 1981, IWAŃCZUK et AL. 1995, JANOWSKI 1995, TOMBARKIEWICZ 1995).
Animals living in the wild may move elsewhere when the environment has a negative effect on their organisms. In contrast, farm animals to a large degree are dependent
on the rearing technology adopted by the breeder, which determines the possibility to
change their dwelling place. In fur animal breeding, especially in case of such species as
foxes, raccoon dogs or mink, animals in the foundation stock as well as reared growing
animals spend most of their lives indoors (in free-standing cages and cages inside pavilions), with no possibility to select an area with no geopathic zones. This may adversely
affect their health, well-being and widely understood welfare, i.e. the aspect which in
recent years has been extensively investigated, especially in carnivorous fur animals.
The desire to improve animal welfare is an important element of all legal acts pertaining
to the development of modern agriculture (HERBUT 2005).
Scores of conformation assessment, including scores for body size and conformation, colour morph, colour purity and coat quality are reliable indications of management conditions, i.e. also animal welfare. Animals kept under poor environmental conditions (e.g. inadequate feeding, poor housing conditions: location of facilities as well as
the facilities themselves) do not score high in conformation assessment.
So far there are practically no extensive studies on the effect of geopathic zones on
productivity of fur animals. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of geopathic
zones in a large area of a farm on the conformation scores of young Arctic foxes during
the period from weaning to slaughter.
Material and methods
Investigations were conducted on a farm breeding Arctic foxes located in western
Poland (the Wielkopolska province). The experiment was conducted on cubs of both
sexes (1803 male and 1517 female) born in the years 2003-2005. Cubs were kept with
their mothers in free-standing cages from birth to weaning at the age of seven weeks.
After weaning cubs were transferred to pavilions. The farm has six single-row pavilions
(denoted as A, B, C, D, E and F), with different numbers of cages. In the pavilions there
are a total of 362 cages of identical dimensions: length 200 cm × width 120 cm × height
80 cm. Each year after weaning cubs were placed in cages in the order of successive
births, starting from pavilion A, followed by B, C, D, E and F. In accordance with binding standards four foxes were housed in each cage. Young foxes (weaned cubs) stayed
in pavilions on average for a period of up to 150 days, with no change of cages.
In this experiment a resonator was used, which is the simplest and easiest to operate
dowsing tool. The courses of underground streams were determined on the farm and
next transferred onto the prepared farm plan (Fig. 1). In order to increase the reliability
of the determined location of underground streams, i.e. geopathic zones, they were
localized by two independent persons authorized to localize water springs (MOŚCICKI
3
Nowicki S., Nawrocki Z., Korczyński M., Przysiecki P., 2009. An attempt of evaluation of the effect of geopathic
zones on assessment of conformation in Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus). Nauka Przyr. Technol. 3, 2, #71.
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Fig. 1. Distribution of cages in pavilions A, B, C, D, E and F with
marked two geopathic zones
Rys. 1. Rozmieszczenie klatek w pawilonach A, B, C, D, E i F
z zaznaczonymi dwiema strefami geopatycznymi
1979). The intensity of geopathic zones may be determined using gauging devices such
as e.g. a geomagnetometer (GŁOGOWSKI 1999 a, b), which due to its cost and laborious
measurements is unlikely at present to be widely used in large-sized farms.
Conformation was assessed at full coat ripeness following the current grading standard for Arctic foxes (WZORZEC... 1998). The assessment included four traits: size and
conformation, colour morph, coat colour purity and coat quality. Traits were given
scores with the maximum total of points for all traits of 20 points.
In this study the multifactorial analysis of variance (SAS, ver. 9.1) was used to
evaluate the effect of underground streams (geopathic zones) detected on the farm as
well as the sex and year of birth on conformation point scores.
4
Nowicki S., Nawrocki Z., Korczyński M., Przysiecki P., 2009. An attempt of evaluation of the effect of geopathic
zones on assessment of conformation in Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus). Nauka Przyr. Technol. 3, 2, #71.
Results and discussion
It should be attempted in pelt production to use to the maximum all factors (genetic
and environmental) resulting in improved fur value of harvested pelts. Two parameters
have a decisive effect on pelt prices, i.e. pelt size and coat quality (FILISTOWICZ et AL.
1999). Conformation assessment in young animals facilitates selection towards good
quality pelts. Coat in fur animals is one of the most important factors indicating the
health state of animals, their nutritional state as well as management conditions. Any
disturbance in environmental conditions is manifested most markedly in the coat, which
most frequently indicates a disturbed or poor welfare of these animals.
Two underground streams were localized on the farm, running almost parallel under
cages in the pavilions. They ran south-west to north-east (Fig. 1). It was found that
a total of 82 cages were located in pavilions built within the area of impact of geopathic
zones, which in relation to the total number of cages in pavilions was 22.6%. Throughout the entire analysed period 729 foxes were kept in those cages (21.95% the total
number of animals). Conformation assessment scores depending on the main analysed
factor, radiation of underground streams (geopathic action zones), are presented in the
table.
Analysis of variance showed a significant effect of the year of birth of animals on
most analyzed traits (body size and conformation, colour purity, coat quality and total
score). At the same time a superior coat quality and higher total scores were recorded
for dogs in relation to the corresponding data for vixens at p ≤ 0.01 (Table 1).
The investigated factor (the geopathic action zone) differentiated conformation
scores. Geopathic zones were found to have no effect on the colour morph or coat colour purity. This results probably from the considerable effect of the genetic factor on the
above mentioned traits.
Coat quality of foxes kept in cages located above the geopathic zones was slightly
higher, but the difference turned out to be statistically non-significant.
Scores for body size and conformation as well as total scores for general appreciation turned out to be statistically higher in the group of foxes kept in cages located in the
geopathic zones. Also other studies (ZUBCZEWSKA 1998) did not confirm an adverse
effect of geopathic zones on the organisms of young silver foxes. The best scores for
assessment of conformation were recorded for young silver foxes kept in cages, under
which a non-uniform (disturbed) magnetic field was detected.
In turn, a study by BARTKOWIAK and BARABASZ (1984) showed deteriorated reproduction results for vixens of Arctic foxes and silver foxes kept in cages located in
geopathic zones. This was manifested in a deterioration of fertility indexes (by approximately 16%) and prolificacy indexes (by approximately 24%) in vixens kept
within these zones in comparison to the mean results for the whole farm population.
Moreover, a more frequent incidence of wastage was recorded for cubs of vixens kept in
cages affected by the geopathic action, increased by approximately 3% at birth and
approximately 7% in the period up to weaning, in relation to the mean wastage rates
reported for the whole farm. It needs to be stressed that in the cited study the zones were
determined using an analogous method as that adopted in this study.
5
Nowicki S., Nawrocki Z., Korczyński M., Przysiecki P., 2009. An attempt of evaluation of the effect of geopathic
zones on assessment of conformation in Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus). Nauka Przyr. Technol. 3, 2, #71.
Table 1. Conformation traits of Arctic foxes during whole investigation period (2003-2005) depending on the water veins (points)
Tabela 1. Cechy pokroju lisów polarnych w całym okresie badawczym (2003-2005) w zależności
od cieków wodnych (pkt.)
Conformation traits
Factor
n
Water vein
1
2
3
4
 1-4
LSM ±S.E.
LSM ±S.E.
LSM ±S.E.
LSM ±S.E.
LSM ±S.E.
*
ns
ns
ns
*
729
5.62 ±0.03
2.79 ±0.02
2.37 ±0.02
6.15 ±0.02
16.97 ±0.05
No water vein 2 591
5.54 ±0.02
2.80 ±0.01
2.36 ±0.01
6.13 ±0.01
16.84 ±0.03
Water vein
Year
**
ns
**
**
**
2003
869
5.38 ±0.03 AB 2.82 ±0.02
2.10 ±0.02 AB 6.12 ±0.02 AB 16.45 ±0.05 AB
2004
1 020
5.80 ±0.03 AC 2.79 ±0.02
2.60 ±0.02 AC 6.27 ±0.02 AC 17.48 ±0.05 AC
2005
1 431
5.57 ±0.03 BC
2.40 ±0.02 BC
Sex
ns
2.78 ±0.01
ns
ns
6.03 ±0.02 BC 16.78 ±0.04 BC
**
**
Male
1 803
5.61 ±0.02
2.81 ±0.01
2.37 ±0.01
6.17 ±0.02
17.00 ±0.04
Female
1 517
5.55 ±0.03
2.79 ±0.01
2.36 ±0.01
6.11 ±0.02
16.81 ±0.04
*p ≤ 0.05.
**p ≤ 0.01.
Means signed with the same letters in line differ significantly at p  0.01.
ns – not significant.
1 – body size and conformation of animal, 2 – colour type, 3 – colour purity of hair, 4 – quality of hair.
The time vixens of Arctic and silver foxes spent in geopathic zones in a study by
BARTKOWIAK and BARABASZ (1984) included the period of preparation to mating, gestation and parturition, i.e. a total of over five months. Weaned cubs are transferred to
pavilions and kept in the same cage until they produce the winter coat (a period of less
than five months). This varied duration of cage dwelling could have affected the observed differences in results. The electromagnetic field has the strongest effect on organisms during embryonic development and during growth (PRESMAN 1971). This is why it
probably affects cubs differently than it does adult animals, such as their mothers.
Conclusions
1. No adverse effect of geopathic zones was shown in case of analysed young Arctic
foxes. A slight positive effect of these zones was found on coat quality assessed on live
animals at their full ripeness.
2. A different effect of underground streams on young foxes tested in the investigations conducted by the authors of this study, in comparison to data reported in literature
on the subject concerning adult animals, indicates the advisability to evaluate the longterm effect of keeping animals in areas with geopathic zones.
6
Nowicki S., Nawrocki Z., Korczyński M., Przysiecki P., 2009. An attempt of evaluation of the effect of geopathic
zones on assessment of conformation in Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus). Nauka Przyr. Technol. 3, 2, #71.
References
BARTKOWIAK I., BARABASZ B., 1984. Wpływ promieniowania podziemnych żył wodnych na
wyniki rozrodu u lisów. Hod. Drobn. Inwen. 5: 6-8.
FILISTOWICZ A., ŻUK B., SŁAWOŃ J., 1999. Attempt of evaluation of factors determining Arctic
fox skin prices. Anim. Sci. Pap. Rep. 4: 209-219.
FRESHWATER D., 1997. Geopathic stress. Complement. Ther. Nurs. Midwifery 3, 6: 160-162.
GALWAS G., 1997. Obserwacje oddziaływania stref geopatycznych na organizmy zwierząt gospodarskich prowadzone w PGR Konarzewo. Przegl. Hod. 8: 16-17.
GŁOGOWSKI R., 1999 a. Badania wpływu zaburzeń ziemskiego pola magnetycznego na rozród
lisów pospolitych w warunkach fermowych. Zesz. Nauk. Przegl. Hod. 42: 127-135.
GŁOGOWSKI R., 1999 b. Próba określenia wpływu ziemskiego pola magnetycznego na wybrane
aspekty rozrodu samic lisów pospolitych (Vulpes vulpes) w warunkach naturalnych i na fermie. Typescript. Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw.
HACKER G.W., PAWLAK E., PAUSER G., TICHY G., JELL H., POSCH G., KRAIBACHER G., AIGNER A.,
HUTTER J., 2005. Biomedical evidence of influence of geopathic zones on the human body:
scientifically traceable effects and ways of harmonization. Forsch. Komplementarmed. Klass
Naturheilkd. 12, 6: 315-327.
HERBUT E., 2005. Rola dobrostanu w produkcji zwierzęcej. Rocz. Nauk. PTZ 1: 21-29.
IWAŃCZUK K., KIEDROWSKI K., PUCHAJDA Z., 1995. Wpływ neutralizacji promieniowania geopatycznego radiacji wodnej na wybrane wskaźniki produkcyjne i zdrowotne krów. Acta Acad.
Agric. Tech. Olst. Zootech. 44: 3-8.
JANOWSKI T.M., 1995. Geopatyczne stanowiska dla zwierząt. Med. Wet. 51, 3: 148-149.
KRZYWDA J., SZUL E., SZUL M., 1981. Radiacja wodna w oborach uwięzionych i jej wpływ na
mleczność, płodność i zdrowie krów. Przegl. Hod. 21: 6.
KUBASIEWICZ M., 1981. Zaburzenia rozwojowe u zwierząt gospodarskich. Przegl. Hod. 9: 6-8.
MOŚCICKI J., 1979. Radiestezja w służbie produkcji zwierzęcej. Przegl. Hod. 8: 14-16.
PRESMAN A.S., 1971. Pola elektromagnetyczne a żywa przyroda. PWN, Warszawa.
SAUNDERS T., 2003. Health hazards and electromagnetic fields. Complement. Ther. Nurs. Midwifery 9: 191-197.
TOMBARKIEWICZ W., 1995. Badania geomagnetometryczne w oborze SHR Uszyce. Typescript.
University of Agriculture, Cracow.
WZORZEC oceny pokroju lisów polarnych. 1998. CSHZ, Warszawa.
ZUBCZEWSKA D., 1998. Próba określenia wpływu magnetycznego pola Ziemi na końcową ocenę
jakości skór lisów pospolitych. Typescript. Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw.
PRÓBA OKREŚLENIA WPŁYWU STREF GEOPATYCZNYCH
NA OCENĘ POKROJU LISÓW POLARNYCH (ALOPEX LAGOPUS)
Streszczenie. Celem pracy była próba określenia wpływu stref geopatycznych na obszarze fermy
na ocenę pokroju młodych lisów polarnych w wieku od odsadzenia do uboju. Badania wykonano
na dużej fermie lisów polarnych, na szczeniętach obu płci (1803 samce i 1517 samic) urodzonych
w latach 2003-2005. Za pomocą rezonatora wyznaczono miejsca przebiegu na fermie podziemnych cieków wodnych, które następnie naniesiono na schemat fermy. W okresie pełnej dojrzałości okrywy włosowej oceniono pokrój zgodnie z aktualnie obowiązującym wzorcem oceny pokroju lisów polarnych. Na podstawie wyników oceny pokroju, wykorzystując analizę wariancji,
porównano zwierzęta przebywające w strefach geopatycznych ze zwierzętami z terenu bez tych
7
Nowicki S., Nawrocki Z., Korczyński M., Przysiecki P., 2009. An attempt of evaluation of the effect of geopathic
zones on assessment of conformation in Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus). Nauka Przyr. Technol. 3, 2, #71.
stref. Otrzymane wyniki wskazują, że w przypadku młodych lisów polarnych nie zaznaczył się
niekorzystny wpływ stref geopatycznych. Niektóre wyniki świadczą o niewielkim pozytywnym
wpływie stref geopatycznych na młode lisy. Należałoby przeprowadzić szersze badania związane
z wpływem tych stref na ocenę pokroju zwierząt starszych, dłużej przebywających na terenach,
gdzie takie strefy występują.
Słowa kluczowe: lis polarny, strefy geopatyczne, okrywa włosowa
Corresponding address – Adres do korespondencji:
Sławomir Nowicki, Katedra Hodowli Owiec, Kóz i Zwierząt Futerkowych, Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Poznaniu, Złotniki, ul. Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland, e-mail: nowicki.slawek@
wp.pl
Accepted for print – Zaakceptowano do druku:
27.02.2009
For citation – Do cytowania:
Nowicki S., Nawrocki Z., Korczyński M., Przysiecki P., 2009. An attempt of evaluation of the effect
of geopathic zones on assessment of conformation in Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus). Nauka Przyr.
Technol. 3, 2, #71.